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SUMMARY
This study investigates the effect of a large artificial reef on nearby sediment distribution and associated meiofauna. Turbulence caused by prevailing swells resulted in resuspension and further size sorting of the sediment in the vicinity. The sand became slightly, but significantly, finer on the port flank, in the lee of the wave trains, compared to starboard undisturbed terrain, which we used as control. No significant difference in biogenic carbonate content could be detected with respect to the two sides, while sediment detritus was enhanced on port.
Nematodes and oligochaets became significantly more abundant on port relative to starboard and the control. Overall, meiofauna standing biomass (gC. 100 ml−1 sediment) near the hull was enriched with respect to open ground. The significance of this to higher trophic levels remains unproven.
